NEWSLETTER

OUR MISSION: To preserve the natural and cultural heritage of El Charco del Ingenio, and maintain a botanical garden dedicated to the conservation and study of regional flora and ecosystems, with a primary focus on environmental education.

LOS PICACHOS: NATURAL PROTECTED AREA

The Institute of Ecology of the State of Guanajuato has initiated the process to safeguard the environmental heritage of a large area of our municipality, which includes the mountains of Tambula and Picachos and the entire Presa Allende. It is a land area of about 90,000 acres that will become part of the State System of Natural Protected Areas.

The aspiration to make the Picachos mountains a protected area is not new,
and is based on the environmental relevance of this range to the town of San Miguel and the whole watershed. It acts like a huge sponge, that has a great diversity of flora and fauna. Its peaks preserve deep soils and oak forests, while the canyons are home to numerous regional plant species. That is why, since 1994, the Botanical Garden of San Miguel de Allende has repeatedly asked the federal and state governments to declare the Picachos range a Natural Protected Area (ANP). It was not until 2013 when the Governor attended a new request from the Botanical Garden and instructed the Institute of Ecology to perform the corresponding procedure.

Surprisingly the projected area not only includes the Picachos range (shared by the municipalities of Comonfort and San Miguel), but extends eastward to the mountains adjoining Tambula, undoubtedly because both ranges contain the watershed which is to be protected. Also the projected area extends westward to include the whole the Presa Allende. A real challenge in terms of environmental conservation and social management!

Fortunately, this ambitious ANP project has been committed to a multidisciplinary team of professionals, led by biologist Ramón Cecaira. This team is currently studying not only the natural resources, but the history and culture of the area, besides orchestrating forms of participation of rural communities in the ANP’ draft. El Charco is giving support to the team of researchers and the Institute of Ecology project, providing all available scientific information on the area. Also we are accompanying the field visits, especially in Picachos, where El Charco owns since 1990 an area of about 200 acres dedicated to the conservation of the natural wealth of the mountain.

A SCULPTURE SPACE FOR BOTANICAL GARDEN

El Charco del Ingenio has become every year a more versatile site that attracts increasing numbers of visitors from various places and various sectors of our local society. This influx is the result primarily of the beauty and natural interest of the site, enhanced by years of environmental protection and restoration, and of course its preparation and public accessibility. Its attraction is also due to the diverse uses of El Charco’s spaces such as for environmental education, research, recreation and the art. Outstanding in this category are the musical concerts, especially the Spring equinox and the huapango music during the Feast of the Cross, as well as the annual exhibition of Land Art and regular botanical illustration courses.

Within this artistic side, the Botanical Garden has gone a step further, creating a new space, the Sculptures’ Trail, an outdoor and permanent path containing works by prominent artists, both sanmiguelenses and from other sources. A committee of curators has been created, which seeks works of high quality and which may be creatively integrated into the natural environment. This new Trail, surrounded by greenery, derives from the Plaza of the Four Winds to the west and is surrounded by a large and beautiful landscape.

The opening piece may be admired by visitors and users Charco: "Horse", a work crafted in iron by sanmiguelense sculptor David Kestenbaum, who unfortunately died in 2013. We sincerely thank Mai Onno, the artist's mother, for the gift of this beautiful sculpture to the Botanic Garden.

DOG PARK CLOSING IN EL CHARCO

The Board of the Botanic Garden informs its members and users that starting September 1st, the area delineated for the dog park shall be reintegrated into the rest of the reserve.

This section of almost two acres, adjacent to the Balcones neighborhood, has served as a space for domestic dogs and owners since August 2010, when it was fenced and prepared for that purpose. El Charco’s Board accepted such use –although outside its mandate-- at the request of a group of members, mostly from Balcones, imagining that it would not have adverse effects and provide a service to the community. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. Despite the good intentions of a group of organized members, there have constantly been breaches of the rules by the users and, notwithstanding the application of an additional fee for access, this has not been enough to cover staffing to take care of and monitor the area.

The main reason that has led the Board to make this decision is the effect of the segregation and division the dog area has created in El Charco as a community public space. Almost all visitors and users no longer access that part of the Garden, uncertain and inhibited by a fence, but mainly by the announced presence of dogs beyond the entrances to the area. In addition to simple fears which could arise from knowing there may be dogs around, there have been recurrent nuisances and attacks on users by dogs inside the area and between dogs themselves, which their owners have not been able to contain. The succession of complaints about it, reported by several members to the direction of the Garden, has been an additional cause for the Board’s decision.

Another more recent and alarming reason is the successive deaths of wild mammals in the reserve, apparently infected with distemper, a common disease among dogs in San Miguel. The dead mammals are species vulnerable to this disease such as the gray fox and skunk and it may also have reached the population of raccoons. The vet has ruled out poisoning and points with much certainty to distemper, probably transmitted to this fauna through indirect contact (excreta, etc.) with domestic dogs, vaccinated or not, or perhaps with feral dogs. Even if it’s difficult to locate and prevent contacts throughout the reserve, it is best to reduce the possibility of further transmitting this disease by not having the area for dogs.

The existing fence will be withdrawn on September 1st and the two sections of the Garden will be reintegrated as a single space for every visitor. We remind you that Landeta Park, adjacent to the Botanical Garden, is an open space for unleashed pets. Those users who paid an additional fee for using the dog park may go to the Garden’s reception to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis if they wish.

The Board of El Charco apologizes for any inconvenience, expecting these reasons for canceling the dog park are understood by the users.

SUPPORTING A NEW BOTANICAL GARDEN IN OUR STATE

Earlier this year, a group of residents of San Luis de la Paz approached El Charco for support for the creation of a botanical garden in their municipality. The new community space --called Malinali-- will be devoted to the native plants of the region, among which are many species of cacti in some risk categories. El Charco has offered to sponsor scientific information on regional biodiversity, give logistical support and even nursery propagated plants for the integration of the first plant collections of the new Botanical Garden --which will be the second in the State of Guanajuato.

The ground for this new conservation space has been leased by the city of San Luis de la Paz. And to endorse the agreement with El Charco, we received a few days ago the mayor of the municipality, Mr. Timoteo Villa Ramirez, accompanied by officials of Ecology and Tourism of the municipality, who made an extensive tour in El Charco del Ingenio.

SUMMER COURSE FOR COMMUNITY CHILDREN

Once the intensive annual summer course is completed, El Charco’s team prepares for another holiday course in August, this time devoted to children in the communities around the Botanical Garden and Parque Landeta. These children or younger siblings of workers who participated in the Temporary Employment Program (PET) in El Charco during the months of June and July. There will be more than 30 children receiving two weeks of free workshops and information on environmental practices in the Garden, which reinforces its mission of bringing together the community.

NEW ACCESS AND PARKING

Work to improve the entry area to the Botanical Garden has finally been completed. This work allows a more functional and attractive access to visitors and users of El Charco, with more shady areas, further reducing the wind and dust entering the reception area of the Garden. The parking area -- 1,500 m2 offered generously by its owner, Dr Javier Retana-- was prepared by timely donations from friends of the Botanical Garden and the enthusiastic support of Franke Nursery and landscape designer Timothy Wachter.

SUMMER IS YELLOW

The second floral explosion can now be seen in El Charco. Walking along the paths, hundreds of species that adorn the landscape may be viewed, but also in the little corners of the reserve. Among the tall grass and mimosas covered with flowers resembing pink clouds, you may discover a variety of yellow flowers: Echeandias, gourds, chicken eyes, pegarropas, dandelions, five wounds, limpiatunas and more.
With so much visual enjoyment, it seems that the sun, sometimes covered by dense rain clouds, decided to come down to earth so we would not forget its shape and brightness. The color yellow, associated with joy and celebration, wakens us and invites us to observe. This is one of the best times of year to dust off the guide Wildflowers of San Miguel de Allende, by Richard Cretecher, and awaken our sense of wonder. Do not miss this magnificent natural spectacle!

HOW DOES THE WEATHER STATION WORK?

The weather station received on loan from the Institute of Geosciences of the UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, which became operational since early this month at the Botanical Garden, is a very interesting device. It has a series of sensors to measure different variables: an anemometer for wind speed and direction, rain gauge to measure rainfall, solar radiation sensor and UV rays, temperature and humidity sensors, and a solar panel.
All this allows us to record a series of environmental variables shown in a wireless console, placed in the Science Center of the Botanical Garden. In this console you can see in real time the changes that are occurring in our local atmosphere. Data is stored on a special card, and then is downloaded into a computer with the help of a program. The station can be programmed to store data at different times. In our case, we decided it was every hour.
The monthly averages of some of the most important variables are being calculated. We invite you to explore.

GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EL CHARCO

Text in Spanish by Landy Orozco and photography by Susan and Wayne Colony. Editorial design by Marlene Parra and edited by the Botanical Garden in collaboration with the Institute of Ecology of the State of Guanajuato, 2014. This new publication inventories 159 species of resident and migratory birds in the Ecological Preservation Zone of El Charco del Ingenio, which represents about 35% of the bird species registered in the State of Guanajuato. Most of the photos, of grand artistic quality, were taken inside the reserve.

The Bird Guide is for sale at Camino Silvestre on Correo and Zacateros , Tierra Madre on Umarán and Correo, at Posada Corazon (Aldama), and of course in the Botanical Garden Gift Shop. It costs 300 pesos.

JULY MOMENTS

- Canyon Waterfalls: It was really extraordinary rain which came to us this past July ... And with these came the colors and sounds of El Charco.

- Feast of the Holy Cross: For 23 consecutive years this traditional community celebration has been performed. We hope for many more.

- Summer Course: About 30 children attended educational workshops that shaped the Summer course. The spaces and facilities of the Garden were an ideal scenario for Educating in Nature ... hope to see you in 2015.

- Botanical Illustration Workshop: In this second course in scientific illustration of the year, students obtained outstanding results in the drawing of birds, under the leadership of Maestro Randall Raak.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

Bird-watching Tours

Every first and third Wednesday of the month, 9 am – 11:30 am. English Cost: 100 pesos general public | 60 pesos El Charco members
Guides include Signe Hammer, Norman Besman, Luke Rich and Michael Wheatcroft.
The walks are for birders of all levels. They begin at 9:00 am and last about 2 1/2 hours. No reservations needed, and feel free to leave the walk at any time. Please bring binoculars, wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and bring water. Your guide will meet you after you pass through the Reception area of the Botanical Garden.

Come and bird watch with us – you’ll be surprised!!

Info.:charcodelingeniocomunicacion@gmail.com

Guided Tours in El Charco

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am| in English
Duration: two hours Cost: $80 pesos, members $50

Visit the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, the Scented Garden and the canyon, archeological ruins and much more. We recommend you wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. With some luck, we will have some rainy days still in September.

THE FULL MOON CEREMONY

Sunday, August 10th | 8p.m. | Plaza of 4 Winds |

We invite everyone to this open celebration that has been taking place for many years during the full moon cycle at the Four Winds Plaza in the Botanical Garden under the always surprising direction of Alicia Mayo. It’s worth arriving a little early to admire the setting of the sun and the appearance of the moon over the mountains. You may want to bring a coat for cool evenings and you may bring a musical instrument.
Alicia Mayo : 152 .0376.

This sweat-lodge steam bath, of ritual and healing character, takes place under the direction of an experienced temazcal leader in the ruins of the hacienda located in the Botanical Garden on the far side of the reservoir.
The combination of heat, humidity and fragrant herbs provides a purifying experience for the body and spirit. Its benefits are multiple: it activates circulation, increases the body’s defenses, eliminates pains, decreases uric acid, relaxes the muscles, regulates the nervous system, stimulates respiration and is excellent for losing weight.

At the Cafeteria…

The recommendation of this month is the nutritious and delicious spinach salad.